Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealcostra’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Duealcostra’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; red to dark red-colored petals with a dark purple-colored central band and yellow-colored stripes; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEALCOSTRA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duealcostra’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Calibrachoa plants with unique bi-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2013 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA11-000764-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA12-006136-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since July, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duealcostra’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duealcostra’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and         decumbent plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Red to dark red-colored petals with a dark purple-colored         central band and yellow-colored stripes.     -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in plant habit as plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have salmon-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have deeper red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL91001’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,232. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCAL91001’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than plants of         ‘USCAL91001’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have shorter internodes than         plants of ‘USCAL91001’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCAL91001’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘USCAL91001’ have red purple-colored         flowers with yellow-colored stripes that extend from the throat         to the petal margins.     -   4. Flower color of plants of the new Calibrachoa fades during         the summer whereas flower color of plants of ‘USCAL91001’ does         not fade during the summer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duealcostra’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Duealcostra’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 16 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealcostra’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA11-000764-001,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA12-006136-001,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright and outwardly             spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely             branching habit with about seven primary lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances branching; dense and             full appearance; vigorous growth habit; moderate growth             rate.         -   Plant height.—About 18 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 46 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 39 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm to 4 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 8 mm to 14 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing             and decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 146C and 152A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after             flowering, opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;             matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 144B. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 144C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.2 mm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 144C. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 120 to 140 flowers developing per plant; flowers face             upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about four             to five weeks after planting; plants flower continuously             from the spring throughout the summer in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.6 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 9.2 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 3 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 4.2 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to             145B and 70A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.3 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:             Entire. Petal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening,             upper surface: Close to 53B. Petal, when opening, lower             surface: Close to 53D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface:             Ground color, close to 53A; towards the margins, close to             53C; central band, close to 79A; stripes and spots, close to             9A; venation, close to 181A and 79A; with development,             ground color becoming closer to 53C to 53D and stripes and             spots, closer to 10B and 10C. Petal, fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 52B; venation, close to 146B. Throat:             Close to 9A and 10A; venation, close to 148A. Tube: Close to             14B; venation, close to 151A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.2 cm. Sepal             width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to 137B. Color, lower surface: Close to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Six per flower.             Filament length: About 6.3 mm. Filament color: Close to             154C. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: Close to 5B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 4C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 8.6 mm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style             color: Close to 150B. Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma             color: Close to 141C. Ovary color: Close to 144C. Seeds and             fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on             plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealcostra’ as illustrated and described. 